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Utah Construction Closes out 2016 on a High, But Cautious Note
Published December 27th, 2016
As we've pointed out throughout the past year, there is plenty of
good happening for Utah's construction industry. Construction is the
largest contributor to the state's economy, and Utah's economy is one of
the best in the country these days. You really don't have to go far to
find construction projects underway - from the Salt Lake City
International Airport to the new Eccles Theater - and many more projects
slated for construction.
Last week, at the annual
Building, Construction and Design Round Table, taking place
at Holland and Hart Thursday morning, nearly 25 industry veterans and
experts met to discuss the “state of their state.” As quoted from
UtahBusiness.com : "With so much going on—some $5.1 billion worth of
projects, according to
Rob Moore, president of Big-D Construction —it’s not hard to see why the
construction industry might be patting themselves on the back and
cracking a bottle of champagne. But while the industry is faring well,
its leaders are being cautious in their optimism, spotting challenges
and weaknesses that need to be solved or bolstered."
Namely, that problem is in the form of labor. “The economy is robust and our projects are robust,” said Moore. “The
only thing we have to deal with is labor. I don’t think it’s as much for
us as some of the larger contractors. Some of our subcontractors, who
are very, very good subcontractors, are really struggling to come out of
the recession and be able to man the projects. We’re concerned about
the success of our subcontractors more than we’re concerned about us
right at this moment. We’re hoping that we’ve got the labor support on
projects.”
The strong economy, while good, is also
part of the problem. Other industries are also strong, and attracting
younger workers. With an educational focus on STEM learning, many
millennials are attracted to the tech industry. Round Table members hope
that things can change by way of offering vocational training at the
high school level, as well as showing that a career in construction can
be highly rewarding.
So, as the new year comes around,
and you're thinking of resolutions, goals, or changes you'd like to
make, consider coming back or starting a career in construction. UTCLC
is here to help! The time is now.
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